Sheffield United: Blades launch last-ditch appeal over Aidy

Sheffield United will launch a last ditch attempt to secure permission from Leeds to play Aidy White in Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Cambridge, Nigel Clough has confirmed.

The former Republic of Ireland under-21 international missed the first round victory over Colchester when Brian McDermott, Clough’s counterpart at Elland Road, refused to adjust the terms of his loan.

However, United have reopened their dialogue with Leeds ahead of their visit to the Abbey Stadium.

“We will try again, right until the death, regarding Aidy,” Clough, the South Yorkshire club’s manager, said. “We’ll pose the question but, admittedly, it’s unlikely we’ll get the answer that we want.”

Cambridge, who set-up their meeting with United by beating Bury earlier this week, are four points clear at the top of the Conference table and have won all 12 of their outings on home soil this term.

Clough, pledging to select “the strongest team we have available to us,” revealed Ryan Flynn and Febian Brandy could both be named in United’s squad but defender Tony McMahon is unavailable due to suspension.

“Tony would probably have missed out anyway because he’s turned his ankle,” Clough said. “Ryan, as people know, has been out with a foot problem but he’s trained all week.

Meanwhile, Clough has explained the reasons behind Lecsinel Jean-Francois’ return to the Redtooth Academy. The Haiti international, who was released by United earlier this year, has entered the final phase of his rehabilitation from serious injury and Clough said: “There’s a long-standing arrangement that he could come back. That we’d help him out.

“We’ve got a friendly coming up next week, against Mansfield I think, and there’s a chance he could be invited to take some part in that.”